Mother's Remedies - Thomas Jefferson Ritter (guided reading books .txt) 📗

using this remedy. The ammonia should be diluted half with water and not used too often.

3. Sunburn, Relief from Pain and Smarting of.—"Benzoated zinc ointment or vaselin applied to the affected parts is sure to give relief and avoid much pain and smarting."

4. Sunburn, Preparation for.—"I have found nothing better than mentholatum." Mentholatum is simply a mixture of vaselin or cosmolin and menthol. They are both very healing, and will be found beneficial.

PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Sunburn.—Soothing ointments and dusting powders are generally sufficient for sunburn. Talcum powder (Mennen's borated), rice powder, oatmeal powders are good and healing. The following are good:

1. Oxide of Zinc Powder 1/2 ounce
    Powdered Camphor 1-1/2 dram
    Powdered Starch 1 ounce

Mix. Dust on the parts.

2. Powdered Starch 1 ounce Powdered Camphor 1 dram

Well mixed and applied is soothing to the parts.

3. The following is a good combination:

      Carbonate of Lead 1 dram
      Powdered Starch 1 dram
      Ointment of Rose Water 1 ounce
      Olive Oil 2 drams

Mix and apply to the inflamed skin.

GANGRENE.—This is the death of a part of the body in mass. There are two forms, moist and dry.

Dry Gangrene.—This is a combination produced by a loss of water from the tissues. The skin becomes dark and wrinkled and is often hard, like leather. Senile or old age gangrene, and really due to the arterial sclerosis, usually occurs in the lower extremities, involving the toes. A slight injury may first start up the trouble. The pain in this variety is not usually great.

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MOTHERS' REMEDIES.—1. Gangrene, Remedy from New York that cured a Gangrenous Case.—"A man aged 74 years had a sore below the knee for fifteen years; at last gangrene appeared in his foot and three physicians pronounced his case hopeless on account of his age. I was called as a neighbor and found the foot swollen to twice its natural size, and the man in pain from head to foot. I ordered cabbage leaves steamed until wilted, then put them over the limb from knee to foot and covered with a cloth. In about fifteen minutes they were black, so we removed them and put on fresh ones, repeating the change until the leaves did not turn black. Then the sore was thoroughly cleansed with a weak solution of saleratus and while wet was thickly covered with common black pepper and wrapped up. The saleratus water and pepper was changed night and morning until the sore was entirely healed. After the third day this man had no pain, and in four weeks was entirely healed. A year later he said he had never had any trouble with it or with rheumatism which he had had for years before."

PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Gangrene.—The skin should be treated. Poultices sometimes may be good, or bottles of hot water around the parts. A general tonic should be given.

Moist Gangrene. Causes.—Wounds, fractures, injuries, pressure from lying in bed and frost bite.

PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Moist Gangrene.—Remove the cause if possible. This kind is more dangerous, and a physician should be called as the best treatment that can be given is none too good.

BLISTER.—This is a watery elevation of the outer skin. It is caused by rubbing, for instance of a shoe, friction from anything, or from burns. It frequently appears on the hands after working for some time at manual labor, when the hands are not accustomed to work. It is the common blister which hardly needs much describing.

MOTHERS' REMEDIES for Blister.—1. Linseed Oil for.—"Linseed oil used freely." This is a very good remedy because it is soothing. Any good soothing lotion or salve that will draw out the soreness and pain is helpful.

2. Blister. A Method of Raising a Blister.—"If a blister is needed take an ordinary thick tumbler, rub alcohol inside and around the rim, then invert over a piece of cotton, saturated with alcohol and ignited; after a few minutes the glass may be removed and clapped on the surface of the body. As the glass contains rarified air the flesh will be drawn up into it and a blister formed."

IVY POISONING.—The parts usually affected are the hands, face, the genitals, the arms, the thighs and neck.

Symptoms.—These usually appear soon. Red patches, with scanty or profuse watery pimples, with a watery discharge after bursting. There is swelling, intense burning and itching. The parts sometimes swell very much and look watery. The person can hardly keep from scratching.

MOTHERS' REMEDIES.—1. Ivy Poisoning, Buttermilk and Copperas for.—"Wash in copperas and buttermilk three or four times a day. Have seen this used and it helped." The copperas and buttermilk is very good when applied to the parts immediately after the poison is discovered. The copperas acts very much like sugar of lead and in some cases is very much more effective.

[SKIN DISEASES 93]

2. Ivy Poisoning, Cure for.—

    "Bromine 10 to 20 drops
    Olive Oil 1 ounce

Mix. Rub the mixture gently into the affected parts three or four times a day. The bromine being volatile the solution should be freshly made."

This remedy is frequently used by physicians, and is very effective.

CHAPPED HANDS AND FACE. Mothers' Remedies.—1. Chapped Hands, Quince Seed Cream for.—"Soak one teaspoonful of quince seeds in one cup warm water over night. Strain through a cloth and add one ounce glycerin, five cents' worth bay rum, and perfume if you choose."

2. Chapped Hands, Soothing Lotion for.—"Bathe them in soft water using ivory soap and Indian meal; when dry bathe in vinegar. Have tried this treatment and my hands feel soft and easy after treatment." It would be best to dilute the vinegar with water one-half.

3. Chapped Hands, Glycerin for.—"Use glycerin freely." Glycerin is very irritating to some people, then again it works like a charm. You can tell only by trying it.

4. Chapped Hands, Carbolic Salve for.—"We always use a good carbolic salve for these, as we have found nothing better for sores of any kind." A few drops of carbolic acid added to any good salve will give you the above.

5. Chapped Hands, Glycerin and Lemon Juice for.—"Two-thirds glycerin, one-third lemon juice, mix well together; apply nights."

6. Chapped Hands, Camphor Ice for.—"Camphor ice." Apply frequently after thoroughly washing and drying the hands.

7. Chapped Hands, Remedy from a New York Lady.—

    Glycerin 4 ounces
    Cologne 2 ounces
    Benzoin 1/2 ounce
    Rain water 1 pint

Mix thoroughly and apply to the hands after washing.

This remedy has also been used for years by a friend, and we have proved it good. If applied frequently during the winter the hands will not chap."

8. Chapped Hands, Rose Cream for.—"Get ten cents' worth of rose water, five cents' worth of glycerin and the juice of one lemon. Mix and rub on the affected parts,"

9. Chapped Hands, Preventive for.—"A little diluted honey or almond oil will restore softness and prevent chapping."

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10. Chapped Hands or Face, from a Twin Falls Idaho, Mother.—"One-fourth ounce gum tragacanth dissolved in one and half pints of soft water; then add ounce each of alcohol, glycerin and witch-hazel, also a little perfume. I find this one of the best remedies I ever used for sore or chapped hands."

PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Chapped Hands.—

1. Subnitrate of Bismuth 3 drams
    Oleate of Zinc 3 drams
    Lycopodium 2 drams

Mix. Apply to the parts three times daily.

2. Powdered camphor mixed with vaselin is healing.

3. Ointment of water of roses (cold cream) is a soothing application. It can be improved by adding a little glycerin and benzoic acid—this keeps it sweet in warm weather.

4. Powdered zinc oxide, or starch as a dusting powder.

FACE CREAMS, Mothers' Preparations.—l. Cream of Pond Lilies.—"This agrees especially well with oily skins; will keep indefinitely.

    Orange Flower Water, triple 6 ounces
    Deodorized Alcohol 1-1/2 ounces
    Bitter Almonds, blanched
      and beaten in a mortar 1 ounce
    White Wax 1 dram
    Spermaceti 1 dram
    Oil of Benne 1 dram
    Shaving Cream 1 dram
    Oil of Bergamot 12 drops
    Oil of Cloves 6 drops
    Oil of Neroli Bigrade 6 drops
    Borax 1/5 ounce

Dissolve the borax in the orange flower water, slightly warmed. Mix the wax, spermaceti, oil of benne and shaving cream in a bainmaire, at gentle heat. Then stir in the perfumed water and almonds. Strain through a clean muslin strainer, place in a mortar and while stirring gradually work in the alcohol in which the oils have been previously dissolved."

2. Face Cream, When Facing our North Winds, in Canada, I Use this.—"Honey, almond meal, and olive oil to form paste. Use after getting skin cleaned. I used it myself and find it good when going out driving."

3. Face Cream, Lanolin Cream.—

    Lanolin 1 ounce
    Sweet Almond Oil 1/2 ounce
    Boric Acid 40 drops
    Tincture of Benzoin 10 drops

This is a good skin food to be rubbed into the skin with the tips of the fingers."

4. Face Cream, Cucumber Lotion.—

    "Expressed Juice of cucumbers 1/2 pint
    Deodorized Alcohol 1-1/2 ounces
    Oil of Benne 3-1/4 ounces
    Shaving Cream 1 dram
    Blanched Almonds 1-3/4 drams

[SKIN DISEASES 95]

The preparation of this is the same as for almond lotion. It is an excellent cosmetic to use in massaging the face and throat, as it not only tones any relaxed tissues, but also may be used to cleanse the skin during the day. A complexion brush is an excellent investment; one should be chosen that has fine camel's hair bristle's. It should be used in connection with good soap."

5. Face Cream, Almond Lotion to Whiten and Soften the Skin.—

    "Bitter Almonds, blanched and beaten 4 ounces
    Orange Flower Water 12 ounces
    Curd Soap (or any fine toilet soap) 1/2 ounce
    Oil of Bergamot